The team made the official announcement Monday. Gutekunst will have complete control over all roster decisions, including the draft and free agency, the team says. He will also lead the Packers' scouting department.

Gutekunst replaces Ted Thompson, who the team announced last week would transition to a senior advisory position.

“We could not be more excited to elevate Brian to the position of general manager,” Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy said in a news release. “He has earned this opportunity throughout his 19 years with the Packers, proving to not only be a skilled talent evaluator, but a trusted and collaborative leader. His time under the direction of former Packers general managers Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson will undoubtedly serve him well as we work toward our next Super Bowl championship. I am confident that he is the man that will help get us there.”

“First, I’d like to thank my mentor, Ted Thompson, for his friendship, and I am happy that we will continue to have the chance to work together,” Gutekunst said in a news release. “I want to thank Ron Wolf for giving me my first opportunity with the Packers, and of course Mark Murphy for the faith and trust he has placed in me moving forward. And finally, I must thank my wife, Jen, and our children for their constant sacrifice and unwavering support despite all of the time I have spent on the road and away from home. I look forward to getting to work with the rest of our talented personnel department and using every avenue available to build the Packers into a championship team again.”

The Packers also promoted Russ Ball to executive vice president/director of football operations. Ball was one of the team's internal candidates for the GM job. Ball will continue in his role of managing the team's salary cap and serving as the chief contract negotiator. He will also continue to oversee several areas in football operations.

The Packers also announced that head coach Mike McCarthy, along with Gutekunst and Ball, will report directly to Murphy.

Gutekunst is in his 20th year in the Packers organization. He spent the past two years as director of player personnel. Before that, Gutekunst was director of college scouting. Gutekunst played and coached college football at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Ball is in his 11th year with the Packers and 30th year overall in the NFL. He was the Packers' vice president of football administration/player finance before being promoted. Ball played his college football at Central Missouri State.